Spending time on the wellness side of TikTok may lead you to come across videos of individuals narrating their experiences tracking their menstrual cycles with the Oura ring and Natural Cycles app. This places Oura at the intersection of two wellness trends: the interest in going off hormonal birth control to monitor the body’s natural cycle and the use of technology to gain insights into health. However, it’s important to be a discerning consumer of social media content, as not all information may be accurate.
Hormonal contraception can be prescribed for various health conditions beyond preventing pregnancy, such as polycystic ovary syndrome and endometriosis. Some individuals are curious about their body’s natural cycle after being on birth control for a long time, while others want a closer look at their cycle. Tracking fertility accurately can be challenging, especially for those with irregular cycles or who have recently stopped hormonal birth control.
Wearables like the Oura ring can provide valuable data on basal body temperature throughout the night, which is used by apps like Natural Cycles to estimate fertile and infertile windows. However, these methods rely on past trends and may not be foolproof. Fertility awareness methods, including tracking cervical mucus and hormone surges, can complement temperature tracking for a more comprehensive approach.
Tech companies are increasingly interested in tracking the menstrual cycle as a vital sign of overall health. Regular and predictable cycles are a good indication of basic health needs being met, while irregular or painful cycles may signal underlying health issues. Big tech companies like Apple are conducting research on menstrual health and its connection to conditions like PCOS and cardiovascular disease.
While birth control can play a crucial role in managing certain health conditions and preventing pregnancies, some individuals may feel they were prescribed it without fully understanding their options. It’s important to have open discussions with healthcare providers about coming off birth control, especially for those interested in exploring their natural cycle.